On March 8 each year the female staff and students at La Sainte Union College in Yokadouma, Cameroon unite with women around the world to celebrate International Women’s Day. This year they added a charitable dimension to their celebration. The teachers and students decided to combine their efforts to share what they have with others. They took up a collection and used the money they raised to purchase meat and rice for the women incarcerated at Yokadouma’s Main Prison. They joined women incarcerated at the prison to celebrate the day.
Sister Michèle Mekam, LSU Principal spoke first and then the women prisoners thanked them for coming to celebrate with them. Different women then addressed the students and advised them to listen to their teachers and take their studies seriously so that they would not end up in prison. The students assured the women that they would follow their advice and would work hard in their classes. At the end of the program, the student distributed the meat and rice to the women who welcomed these gifts with immense joy. For the students and teachers their visit to the prison was a profound experience.
By this action, the Holy Union Sisters in Yokadouma saw International Women’s Day as an opportunity to witness to their students the value all women, regardless of their situation.
Many thanks to Sister Michèle Mekam, principal of La Sainte Union College in Yokadouma for sharing this news.